Canada's Decision To Cut Diplomatic Ties With Iran Caught A Lot Of People By Surprise

Canada's Foreign
Affairs Minister John Baird issued a statement today
announcing the end of formal diplomatic relations between Canada
and Iran.

“Canada has closed its embassy in Iran, effective immediately,
and declared personae non gratae all remaining Iranian
diplomats in Canada,"
the statement reads. “Canada’s position on the regime in Iran
is well known. Canada views the Government of Iran as the most
significant threat to global peace and security in the world
today."

Canada hadn't had a full ambassador in Iran since 2007, after
an Iranian-Canadian photographer was
tortured and killed in 2003.

The official statement lists a number of reasons for the
decision, including support for Assad in Syria, threats against
Israel, and the nuclear program. The thing is, these aren't new
factors, and almost everyone appears to have been caught by
surprise by the news. Now a lot of people are wondering if
there's some kind of deeper, perhaps more specific reason for the
move.